Automatic lighter with elongated flint



NOV 7, 1950 J. L. A. BORTHAYRE 2,529,326

AUTOMATIC LIGHTER WITH ELONGATED FLINT Filed June 28, 1946 2Sheets-Sheet 1 if? fd,

Nov. 7, 1950 J. l.. A. BORTHAYRE AUTOMATIC LIGHTER WITH ELONGATED FLINT2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1946 mvefvmn yr@ MM Gm.

gime/ven Patented Nov. 7, 1.950

AoToMA'rro Lier-iran Wrrir ELoNGArED rLiNr .l can Lon Albert Borthayre,Bayonne, France Application .lune 28, 1946, Serial No. 679,959 In FranceJuly 11, 1945 8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to lighters for use with cigarettes, cigars andthc like, and more particularly to that class of lighter which isoperated automatically upon the opening movement of a wick cover.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a lighter wherein thedint is originally of substatially equal length with that of the body ofthe lighter and is automatically advanced toward the abrasive` wheeleach time the lighter is operated.

It is another object of the invention to provide a lighter having aunique filling arrangement to permit ready and easy filling of thereservoir with lighter uid and without a waste of the fluid.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lighter wherein theparts are readily assembled and disassembled without the use of tools.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a lighter thatembodies simplicity of design, economy of construction, and efficiencyin operation.

Thev novel features that are considered characteristic oi the inventionare set forthwith particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its organization and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbest be understood from the followingdescription of a specilc embodimentwhen read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figuresand in which:

Fig. l is a side View, partially in elevation and partially incross-section, of a lighter embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the lighter with parts broken away to showthe construction thereunder;

3 is an end view in elevation of the lighter as seen from the left sideof Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional viev of the top portion of thelighter and corresponding to Fig. 1 but with the parts moved tooperative position; and l Fig. 5 is an exploded view in perspective ofthe lighter.

Referring now to the drawings, specifically to Figs. l and 5, a lighterin accordance with the present invention comprises a body I, preferablyof molded material, such as light metal, which is removably mounted inthe casing 3. rlhe body i is partially hollow to form a reservoir Id forcontaining a wick supply or cotton ller which may be impregnated by aliquid f uel. Only the end of a wick "5a is shown in Fig` `l. The body Iis provided in one side with a circular filling opening 2, preferablyhaving a minimum diameter of 27 mm., for the admission of a supply offuel to the reservoir l a. The opening 2 is preferably of a size toreceive the complete mouth of a fuel container, so that the body I maybe placed on the container with the opening 2 surrounding the mouththereof and then inverted until the wick material therein is completelysaturated. A plurality of Vconcentric grooves 2a are cut into the outersurface oiV the body I and surrounding the opening 2 to provide a fluidtight joint with the adjacent wall of the casing 3. lf desired, aplastic material may be seated in one or more of the grooves 2a to forma gasket for Cooperation with the adjacent wall of the casing 3.

A square bore or channel l extends longitudinally from bottoniv to topthrough the body I adjacent one edge thereof. A iiint 4d is slidablymounted in the bore 4 and is preferably of a length' tov extendcompletely through the bore when initially inserted. A circular recess4b is formed in the top of the body l and surrounding the square bore d.An internally threaded, round nut-like member 2! having a serrated orratchet toothed periphery is rotatably seated in the recess 4b with itscenter substantially coaxial with the bore II. .Y The iiint 4a issubstantially square in cross section to coincide with the bore 4 toprevent its turning within the bore but has threads c'ut across itsVcorner portions for cooperation with the internal threads' of the nut 2I. The hint lia may comprise a' r'od of ierrocerium or other suitablematerial. Due to the smaller area of the threaded corner portion of theiiint, these areas may be hardened as by a superficial chroming or thelike.

A neck 5' extends upwardly from the top of the body .l adjacent theflint bore recess 4b and has a passage in communication with thereservoir la; to receive the free end of the wick 5a, inthe customarymanner. The neck 5 is provided with a laterally protruding abutment 5bthat overlies and forms, with the top of the body I, a groove 22. Thevabutment 5b extends from the neckl 5 on the side opposite the flint bore4 or, in other words, towards the rear edge of the body.

Y An apertured' boss t extends upwardly from the top of the body, spacedfrom the abutment 5b and between the neck 5 and the rear edge of thebody I. In addition, two hook-shaped stops 1 1 andate 3 recess 2 acrossthe bottom of the flint bore l! and is provided with a transverse groove21 at the inner end of the recess.

The casing 3 is preferably formed of a metal sheet which issubstantially rectangular and folded over at the rear edge portion orthat por- Y tion which is to be opposite the lighter flint whenassembled. It covers the body I somewhat in the manner of a hook coverand bears on the body I in direct contact on both sides and the rear andbottom edges thereof, with portions projecting over the front and topedges. As best shown in Fig. 5, the side walls and rear edge wall aresolid with the bottom edge wall that is formed by juxtapositioned anges.In addition, upright flanges 2& 28 are formed inwardly from both sidewalls across the bottom portion of the front of the casing and a narrowflange 32 is formed over transversely across the top of the rear edgewall. The side walls of the casing are extended at the top adjacent therear edges thereof and these extensions are formed over to provideinwardly extending flanges !3-I3 which are spaced above the top properof the casing 3 and above the top of the body I when the body and casingare assembled. The flanges I3-I3 are provided with notches 33-33' intheir under sides at their inner or forward ends.

An abrasive wheel I6 is carried by a plate I9 that is mounted on top ofthe body l. The plate I9 is provided with a central aperture I9 to fitover the Wick neck 5, and with a formed over U-shaped end |913 Ythat isprovided with a slot |912 for receiving the boss 6. The plate I9 ispositioned flat on the body with the inner end of the slot |917 seatedagainst the boss 6 and the peripheral edge of the aperture I9' tted witha removable snap-catch connection in the slot 22 at the base of the neck5. The plate I9 extends upwardly and forwardly to form a thin platformI9a that overlies and bears down on the int nut 2 I, thereby holding thenut 2l in the recess db. The platform 19a is provided with a squareaperture ld for snugly passing and frictionally engaging the flint da,and terminates in a downward ange 2U which bears against the peripheryof the nut 2I to hold the plate in position and seated in the slot 22.

A pair of upstanding ears I9c are carried on each side of thethinplatform I9a and a stub shaft I 8 is journalled in said ears andtransversely positioned directly above the flint bore 4. The usualabrasive wheel I6 is mounted on the shaft I8 for engagement with theupper endV of the flint 4a. Ratchet wheels I'I-I'I are mounted on theshaft I8, one on each side of the abrasive wheel I6. The ratchet wheelsII--II are fixed to the Wheel I6 to drive the abrasive wheel I6 againstthe flint 4a and create and throw a spark to the wick a, but this treblewheel is removably mounted on the shaft I8 for ease of assembly. Theplate I9 is preferably formed of resilient steel and, being clamped downby the notch 22, the front portion including the platform I9a is biaseddown against the nut 2| and thereby presses the abrasive wheel I6against the flint 4a.

The ratchet wheels I'I-I'I mesh with and are driven by a pair of racks24-24, respectively,

which are fixed at their front ends on a cross pin that is 'centrallycut longitudinally from the top ofthe spring 26.` This tongue 29 bearson the flat -ing lip 26' which seats in the groove 21'. the spring 26 isseated against the body I, the

yrodi, s

4 of the pin 25 and thereby biases the pin 25 to urg the racks 21%-23against the ratchet wheels II-I'I'. By this arrangement, the racks 24-24drive the ratchet wheels I'I-I 'I' only in the direction that willprovide for the ignition of the wick 5a, that is from left to right inFigs. l and 4.

The leaf spring 26 fits against the front and extends the height of thebody I, the spring terminating at its bottom in a right angular bend26a, which seats in the recess 2'! and covers the bottom of the fiintbore 4, and terminates in an upstand- A When end 26a lls the recess 21to be substantially flush with the bottom of the body, and the spring 26is partially covered and retained in position by the casing 3 whichcovers the bottom end 26a and holds the bottom portion of the spring bythe front iianges 28-28. Thus, the spring 26 is held fiat against thefront ofthe body I by the flanges 28-28, but, as these anges extend onlya small portion of the height of the casing 3, as best shown in Fig. 3,the spring is permitted free and easy flexure away from the body I.After the casing 3 is mounted over the body I, it is retained by aremovable U-shaped clip 3I that spans the free front edges of thecasing, this clip 3l being seated in a transverse slot Sla in the body Iand notches 3| in the front of the lcasing Walls 3 to position the clip3| behind the spring 26 so that the latter can lie flat against thefront edge of the bodi7 I.

A shell-shaped, flat-sided hood 8 is slidably mounted on the top of thebody I, the flat sides of the hood being closely juxtapositioned to theouter sides 0f the upstanding ears l 9c so that the front end of thehood is guided thereby. The rear end 8' of the hood is reduced inthickness to t between the casing flanges I3. The central top portion ofthe hood has an opening 9 above the wick neck 5, this opening extendingcompletely across the top of the hood and being closed by a cover 9 thatis pivotally mounted at its rear end by hinges Iii-I6' on the side wallsof the hood, The cover 9 carries an inverted cup 9a for surrounding thetop of the neck 5 to snuif the Wick 5a. The hood 8 terminates at itsrear end 8 in an upstanding portion that defines a rearwardly facingthumb or finger piece 8b. The hood 8 is inclined downwardly along theopening 9 so that the cover 9 is positioned closely to the abutment 5bfor quick engagement therewith upon forward movement of the hood, andthe overturned end |92), of the plate I9, is tapered to increase itsresilience and extends to contact the cover 9 when the hood 8 is innormal position to hold the cover down in closed position.

The rear Wall or thumb piece 8b of the hood 8 is extended at its bottomcorners in two laterally disposed strips that are helically coiled toform trunnions Il-II which are slidable longitudinally under the flangesI3-I3 to hold down and guide the rear portion of the hood 8 during itss'lidable movement, the trunnions having a slight frictional engagementbetween the and flanges I3-I3- The trunnions II-I I surround across-branch I2 of a T- shaped member I2, the main bar of which isslidable in the aperture of the boss 6 and is surrounded by a helicalspring 39 that is compressed between the boss 6 and the cross-.branchI2. Thus the hood B is moved forwardly by thumb or finger pressure onthe rear wall 8b and is retracted by the spring 36. As the trunnionsII-l I' are widely spaced and loosely surround the cross-bar I2', thisbar I2' may be easily assembled and dismantled by sliding longitudinallyuntil one end is freed from its trunnion and after inclining the freeend beyond said trunnion, sliding in the opposite direction. As bestshown in Fig. 5, the strips forming the trunnions II-l I terminate atthe tops of the trunnions and are turned up slightly to seat in thenotches 33-33', respectively, in the flanges Iii-I3', upon a slightupward movement of the thumb piece 8b, and thus hold the hood 8 inforward position.

The forward end of the hood 8 is doomed to cover the abrasive wheel I5and curves downwardly into a front wall coinciding with the frontsurface defined by the spring 29. This front wall is provided withanotch which is slightly divided by an incurved catch I5 into twopassages I4-I 4 for respectively passing the racks 2li-24. The catch I5lies in the path of the tongue 29 of the spring 26, The bottom portionsof the front wall on the outer'side of the passages I4-I' are bentinwardly to define hooks 8er-8a for cooperating` with the stops 'I-T inlimiting the spring retraction of the hood 8. It'will be noted that thecatch I5 curves inwardly and then outwardly at the tip thereof and thatthe tip is below the top of the tongue 29.

When the hood 8 is pushed forward by pressure on the rear wall 8b, asshown in Fig. 4, the tip of the catch l5 engages the tongue 29 andswings it outwardly, releasing the pressure on the flat of the pin 25 topermit lowering of the racks 24-24, and biasing the spring 26 outwardlyto move the racks 2li-24 forwardly beneath the ratchet wheels IT-II.After a given amount of movement, the tongue swings below the catch I5and is released to engage the fiat of the pin 25 and swing the racks upagainst the ratchet wheels, and the spring 26 returns to normalposition, driving the racks 24-24 which drive the wheels I'f-I'f toactuate the abrasive wheel I6. Upon release of the hood 8, it is'returned by the spring 3,9, andY the catch i5 is cammed up over thetongue 2'9 by the outward curve of its tip.

The T-shaped member I2 has a portion I2b that extends forwardly beyondthe boss 6 and is curved to pass the wick neck 5, terminating in Va pawlI2a for cooperating with the toothed periphery of the nut 2I. Uponmovement of the T-member I2, by movement of the hood 8, the

vpawl I2a is advanced against the` nut 2|, engaging the teeth thereofand thereby rotating the nut to thread the flint 4a upwardly against theabrasive wheel I5. The portion I 2b is resilient so that the pawl i205will spring away from the teeth of the nut 2I upon maximum resistanceagainst the flint by the wheel I6 and the resilience of the supportingplate I9, whereupon the pawl I2a will advance freely beyond the nut 2l.It should be noted that the boss 6 of the body I has an aperture ofsufcient size to pass the pawl I2a and thereby permit removal andassembly of the T-shaped member I2, the member being slidably surroundedby a collar 6 which abuts the boss B and forms an end bearing for thespring 30.

In operation, the iiint la having been loaded and the wick 5a havingbeen inserted and saturated with fuel, the operator presses the thumbpiece 8b to move the hood 8 forwardly. This movement carries theT-member I2 forwardly to engage the pawl I2a with the nut 2| and threadthe flint 4a up against the abrasive wheel I6. Almost immediately withthe initial movement swings the racks 24--24 up into engagement with theratchet wheels I'I-Il and, simultaneously, the spring 26 snaps backagainst the body I so that the racks drive the ratchet wheels which inturn drive the abrasive wheel I5 in contact with the iiint da to createand throw sparks to the wick 5a and thereby ignite the wick.

If it is desired to hold the lighter in operation, the hood 8 is movedto maximum position and the thumb piece pressed upwardly to engage theends of the trunnions II-II in the notches 33-33. When use of thelighter is completed, the thumb piece 8b is pressed down to release thetrunnions II-l I from the notches 33-33' and the thumb piece is releasedand the hood returned by the spring 36 to normal position wherein thehooks Saz-8a engage the stops 1*?, as shown in Fig. 1. When the hood 8moves back to normal position, the cover 9 engages the forwardlyextending end I9b of the plate I9 and is swung thereby into closedposition and the cap 9a snuiTs the wick 5a. Obviously, the return of thehood 8 retracts the T-member I2 and its pawl i2a to operative position,and the catch I5 is pulled over and behind the tongue 29.

In order to refuel or reload flint in the lighter, the thumb piece 8b ispressed to advance'the hood 3 and swing the spring 26 away from the bodyI and the clip 3| is removed from the casing 3'. Usually the hood 8 islocked in open position to permit easy removal of the clip 3l. The hood8 is then released and returned to normal position, and the sides of thecasing are sprung apart suiiiciently to permit the removal of the bodyl, spring 28 and hood 8 as a unit. Fuel may then be poured through theopening 2 into the reservoir Ia or, if the fuel is contained in an openneck bottle or like container, the body l may be turned to place theopening 2 down over the container neck, and the container and bodyinverted until the reservoir la and wick 5a or cotton filler are filledand saturated, after which the container and body are re-inverted andthe container removed. To reload flint, the' spring end 26a and lip 26are removed from the recess 27 and groove 21 to uncover the bottom ofthe bore 4. A long stick of flint is then inserted up through the bore land threaded into the nut 2I by manually rotating the nut until theupper end of the flint engages the abrasive wheel I6. The flint stick isthenv broken off flush withv the bottom of the bore A or recess 21, andthe spring end 26a and lip 26 replaced in the recess 21 and groove 21,respectively. The side walls of the casing 3 are then separated and thebody I and assembly are reinserted.

In view of the foregoing description, it is readily evident that thelighter parts may be readily assembled and dismantled manually, forpurposes of cleaning, repairing, replacing parts or the like, no toolsof any type being necessary for this operation.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shownand described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possiveWheel rotatably mounted on said body above v said flint bore, a wickpassage extending from the reservoir through the top of said body, a nutrotatably-mounted at the upper opening of said flint Vbore and adaptedto engage by its internal threads said screw-threads of the iiint and toadvance said flint into engagement with said abrasive Wheel when saidnut is rotated, an actuating device. for imparting rotation to saidabrasive wheel, and means operated by said actuating device forimparting rotation to said nut.

2. A lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said nut is externallytoothed, and said means for imparting rotation to said nut is a pawladapted to engage the external teeth of said nut when said actuatingdevice is operated.

3. A lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said nut is externallytoothed, said means for imparting rotation to said nut is a pawl adaptedto engage the external teeth of said nut when said actuating device isoperated, and a resilient support for said pawl to permit disengagementof said pawl from said teeth when the pressure exceeds a predeterminedlimit.

4. A lighter comprising a reservoir body formed with a int boreextending through the entire height of said body and adapted to slidablyand non-rotatably guide therein a int having screwthreads on itsperiphery, an abrasive Wheel rotatably mounted on said body above saidflint bore, a wick passage extending from the reservoir through the topof said body, an externally toothed nut rotatably mounted at the upperopening of said flint bore and adapted to engage by its internal threadssaid screw-threads of the flint and to advance said flint intoengagement with said abrasive Wheel when said nut is rotated, anactuating device for imparting rotation to said abrasive wheel, andmeans operated by said actuating device for imparting rotation to saidnut, said actuating 'device comprising at least one ratchet wheelconnected with said abrasive wheel, a hood slidably mounted on saidbody, spring means for holding said hood in its position of rest, a Wickcovering cap pivotally mounted on said hood, a second spring means forholding said cap in its Vclosed position, an abutment formed on saidbody and adapted to engage and lift said cap when said hood and cap aredisplaced forwardly with respect to said body, a rack for each of saidratchet Wheels and adapted to slip in its forward stroke over the teethof said ratchet wheel and to engage in its backward stroke the teeth ofsaid ratchet Wheel, a third spring means biasing said racks backwardtowards their position of rest, a tongue on said cover and being adaptedto engage and push said third spring means and racks forward, during theforward stroke of said hood, and to release said third spring means andracks after a predetermined forward displacement of said hood for thebackward stroke in which said rack causes rotation of said ratchetWheel, and said means for imparting rotation to said nut being apawlconnected to said slidable hood and adapted to engage the external teethof said nut when said actuating device is operated, and a resilientsupport for said pawl to permit disengagement of said pawl from saidteeth when the pressure exceeds a predetermined limit.

5. A lighter as claimed in claim 4, comprising releasable retainingmeans for retaining said cover in its forwardly displaced position.

6. A lighter as claimed in claim 4, wherein one of the side walls ofsaid body is provided with a large opening into said reservoir, and aremovable outer casing enclosing said body and adapted to close and sealsaid opening.

7. A lighter as claimed in claim 4, wherein one of the lateral walls ofsaid body is formed With a large opening into the reservoir andsurrounded by concentrical grooves in said lateral wall, and a removableouter casing enclosing said body and adapted to close said opening andform a seal with said grooves.

8. A lighter as claimed in claim 4, wherein one of the lateral Walls ofsaid body is formed with an opening of at least 1 inch in diameter intothe reservoir and surrounded by concentrical grooves in said lateralWall, plastic material filling at least one of said grooves, and aremovable outer casing enclosing said body and adapted to close saidopening and form a seal with said grooves and plastic material.

JEAN LON ALBERT BOR'FHAYRE` REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 553,039 Great Britain May 5, 1943

